Family escapes burning mobile home

Published: Sunday, July 6, 2014 at 3:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 6, 2014 at 3:41 p.m.

Three family members escaped an early Sunday morning house fire in the Alpine Woods Resort with just the clothes on their backs.

When firefighters from Dana Fire and Rescue arrived at 23 Ducks Walk Trail around 5:30 a.m., the singlewide mobile home was "fully involved," said Assistant Fire Marshal Joe Swain.

All three residents of the home — described as a father, his son and the son's girlfriend — had gotten out of the burning structure with only their "pajamas and the clothes they had on," Swain said. "They lost everything else."

The fire, which was sparked by an electrical problem, initiated in a bedroom occupied by the son and girlfriend, Swain said. "It was not the electrical plug, though," he added.

"They were sleeping in that bedroom and the smoke woke them up," Swain said. Before fleeing, the couple saw flames coming out of a cabinet on the wall that held a television and a DVD player.

Firefighters had extinguished the flames by the time Swain arrived on the scene around 6 a.m., but the home was "completely destroyed," he said. "The roof didn't collapse, but it was basically gutted inside."

The American Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary lodging, food and clothing, Swain said.

Although the mobile home is located just behind Manual Woodworkers and Weavers on Howard Gap Road, Swain said that the business was never in danger. Another mobile home about 20 feet away sustained minor damage to its siding, he said.

Dana Fire and Rescue, Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue, Edneyville Fire and Rescue and Mountain Home Fire and Rescue responded to the call.

Alpine Woods Resort is a mobile home park located off Old Sunset Hill Road.

<p>Three family members escaped an early Sunday morning house fire in the Alpine Woods Resort with just the clothes on their backs.</p><p>When firefighters from Dana Fire and Rescue arrived at 23 Ducks Walk Trail around 5:30 a.m., the singlewide mobile home was "fully involved," said Assistant Fire Marshal Joe Swain.</p><p>All three residents of the home — described as a father, his son and the son's girlfriend — had gotten out of the burning structure with only their "pajamas and the clothes they had on," Swain said. "They lost everything else."</p><p>The fire, which was sparked by an electrical problem, initiated in a bedroom occupied by the son and girlfriend, Swain said. "It was not the electrical plug, though," he added.</p><p>"They were sleeping in that bedroom and the smoke woke them up," Swain said. Before fleeing, the couple saw flames coming out of a cabinet on the wall that held a television and a DVD player. </p><p>Firefighters had extinguished the flames by the time Swain arrived on the scene around 6 a.m., but the home was "completely destroyed," he said. "The roof didn't collapse, but it was basically gutted inside."</p><p>The American Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary lodging, food and clothing, Swain said. </p><p>Although the mobile home is located just behind Manual Woodworkers and Weavers on Howard Gap Road, Swain said that the business was never in danger. Another mobile home about 20 feet away sustained minor damage to its siding, he said.</p><p>Dana Fire and Rescue, Blue Ridge Fire and Rescue, Edneyville Fire and Rescue and Mountain Home Fire and Rescue responded to the call. </p><p>Alpine Woods Resort is a mobile home park located off Old Sunset Hill Road.</p><p>___ </p><p>Reach Axtell at than.axtell@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7860.</p>